Dan Gavitt To Leave Bryant For Position At Big East Conference

BRYANT'S DAN GAVITT HEADED TO BIG EAST CONFERENCE

SMITHFIELD, RI (July 26, 2005) -- Bryant University announced that Director of Athletics Dan Gavitt has resigned in order to become the Associate Commissioner for men’s basketball at the BIG EAST Conference.  The appointment of Gavitt to this newly created position was announced today by BIG EAST Conference Commissioner Michael Tranghese. 

Gavitt leaves Bryant after serving as Director of Athletics for six years. Since his arrival in 1999, Bryant’s athletic teams have enjoyed unprecedented success both on the playing field and in the classroom.  During Gavitt’s tenure, Bryant’s athletics program captured two consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Presidents’ Cup trophies, earned a top-25 finish in the final standings of the NACDA Directors’ Cup standings, and finished third among all Division II institutions in student-athlete graduation rate.  Recently, a total of 46 student-athletes earned scholar-athlete recognition by the Northeast-10 Conference for 2004-05.   

“My six years at Bryant University have been very special because of the incredible people on this campus,” said Gavitt. “President Ron Machtley gave me an outstanding professional opportunity and I appreciate his confidence and support of the program. I’ll miss working with the best coaches and student-athletes in the Northeast-10.   However I know that Bryant University will continue to have outstanding results and success in athletics due to all of the talented people in the department.  The next athletic director will be blessed with the best staff in the Northeast-10.”

During this past academic year, Bryant sent six teams to various NCAA Championships and reached the finals in the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship in March.  In June, Gavitt was honored as the NCAA Division II NACDA Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year.

In his new role, at the Providence-based BIG EAST Conference, Gavitt will serve as the league’s primary basketball administrator.  As such, he will represent the Conference on a day-to-day basis in the overall administration, management and control of its member’s basketball programs.  Additionally, he will serve as the office liaison with all internal basketball constituencies including member institutions’ administrators, coaching staff and game officials.

“On behalf of Bryant University, I would like to thank Dan for his outstanding dedication and work as Director of Athletics for the past six years,” said President Machtley.  “Under his leadership, the Bryant athletics program has established itself as one of the best, and most respected, in the Northeast-10 Conference. This is a tremendous opportunity for Dan, both professionally and personally to join a conference of such high stature as the BIG EAST.  We wish him all the best in the future.”  

Prior to his appointment at Bryant University, Gavitt served as President of Craigville Sports Associates, a marketing and public relations firm.  A 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College, he earned an MBA from Providence College in 1995 while serving as an assistant basketball coach with the Friars.  He and his wife Susan live in Barrington, Rhode Island and are the parents of two sons, Andrew and Sean.  He will assume his new position on September 6.